Diana Stakes

The Diana Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. Named for the mythological goddess Diana, the race is run each year at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Inaugurated in 1939, it is open to fillies and mares age three and up willing to race the one and one-eighth miles on the turf. The race is a Grade I with a purse of $500,000.

Formerly the Diana Handicap, it is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series that gives the winner of the Diana Stakes an automatica berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. [1]

From inception in 1939 to 1973, the race was run at a distance of a mile and a furlong on the Saratoga Race Course's dirt track prior. Because of large fields, it was split into two divisions in 1973, 1982, and 1983. During World War II, from 1943, through 1945 the race was run at Belmont Park in 1943, 1944, and 1945.

Records

Speed: (at current 1⅛ miles on grass)

• 1:45 2/5 - Waya (1978) (equalled world record)

Wins:

• 2 - Miss Grillo (1946, 1947); Searching (1956, 1958); Tempted (1959, 1960); Shuvee (1970, 1971); Hush Dear (1982, 1983);
  Glowing Honor (1988, 1989); Forever Together (2008, 2009)

Most wins by an owner:

• 6 - Rokeby Stable (1967, 1968, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1989)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Conn McCreary (1946, 1947, 1954, 1956)
• 4 - Eddie Belmonte (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974)
• 4 - Jerry Bailey (1989, 1998, 2000, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 - J. Elliott Burch (1967, 1968, 1976, 1982, 1983)

Winners of the Diana Handicap since 1939

* 1968 - Gamely won the race but was disqualified.